The first global index tracking real-time prices for buying fake account verifications on 500+ online platforms in every country has been launched by a team at the University of Cambridge.
It definitely wouldn’t. Outside of requiring an existing user to vouch for someone (which would drastically reduce the reach of the platform) or doing some kind of extensive interview over video (which would have serious privacy concerns and also massively discourage people from signing up) there aren’t really a lot of options for preventing bot accounts. Even then botters could hack legitimate accounts and use them as puppets.
I think the best solution would be to have general instances that are vulnerable to bots, and then also instances with stricter measures just like we have right now. Before you take someone seriously, look at their instance to see if they may be a bot. If the instance is reputable, you can be safe in taking them seriously. It’s like blue check marks used to be.
It definitely wouldn’t. Outside of requiring an existing user to vouch for someone (which would drastically reduce the reach of the platform) or doing some kind of extensive interview over video (which would have serious privacy concerns and also massively discourage people from signing up) there aren’t really a lot of options for preventing bot accounts. Even then botters could hack legitimate accounts and use them as puppets.
I think the best solution would be to have general instances that are vulnerable to bots, and then also instances with stricter measures just like we have right now. Before you take someone seriously, look at their instance to see if they may be a bot. If the instance is reputable, you can be safe in taking them seriously. It’s like blue check marks used to be.
Known bot harbors could be defederated. Perhaps even instance size limits may be imposed (requiring new instances to “prove themselves”.